Repent, and Believe in the Gospel ~ by Ronnie Archer
On this First Sunday of Lent, the Genesis reading speaks of the covenant after the flood, that God made with Noah, his family, descendants and every living creature that was with him.
God's covenant was the "bow in the clouds." When we see a rainbow, it really should remind us of God's love, faithfulness, and His mercy for all of us. God's promise is to never again destroy all the earth and all bodily creatures by the waters of a flood, because of the sins of humanity.
The second reading from 1 Peter 3:18-22, tells us that "Christ suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that He might lead you to God. Put to death in the flesh, He was brought to life in the Spirit."
God waited patiently in Noah's time, while he built the ark; and out of that deluge, eight people were saved through water. "This prefigured baptism," which saves us now; not to cleanse the body, but is "an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ."
Today's Gospel from Mark, speaks of the "Spirit driving Jesus out into the desert." Jesus was surrounded by wild beasts and tempted by Satan. Temptation comes to a person who has a special gift. Jesus was tempted because Satan knew that He had the gift for the World. God never leaves us alone. Jesus was able to resist temptation because God's angels were with Him all the time.
Temptation is satisfying one's own self; one's own will rather than the Divine Will. We cannot overcome temptation if we are not focusing on the goal, but instead, wavering.
Jesus' mind never wavered. He was focused the entire time on His goal. He knew His Father's Will.
Honesty is Salvation. Our forefathers made a covenant with God, but do we really feel it? How many times do we really receive the Word? There's a difference in merely hearing, and receiving and feeling the Word.
We are often caught up with so much of the things of this world, that we forget what our goal is, which is Jesus Christ.
Let's ask God to help us to remember that He is with us at all times. Ask Him to help us to set our minds at all times to do what we need to do, realizing that God's Word is important.
Unless we empty ourselves to become "poor", we cannot ask for the richness of God.
"This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel."
~ First Sunday of Lent ~
God's covenant was the "bow in the clouds." When we see a rainbow, it really should remind us of God's love, faithfulness, and His mercy for all of us. God's promise is to never again destroy all the earth and all bodily creatures by the waters of a flood, because of the sins of humanity.
The second reading from 1 Peter 3:18-22, tells us that "Christ suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that He might lead you to God. Put to death in the flesh, He was brought to life in the Spirit."
God waited patiently in Noah's time, while he built the ark; and out of that deluge, eight people were saved through water. "This prefigured baptism," which saves us now; not to cleanse the body, but is "an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ."
Today's Gospel from Mark, speaks of the "Spirit driving Jesus out into the desert." Jesus was surrounded by wild beasts and tempted by Satan. Temptation comes to a person who has a special gift. Jesus was tempted because Satan knew that He had the gift for the World. God never leaves us alone. Jesus was able to resist temptation because God's angels were with Him all the time.
Temptation is satisfying one's own self; one's own will rather than the Divine Will. We cannot overcome temptation if we are not focusing on the goal, but instead, wavering.
Jesus' mind never wavered. He was focused the entire time on His goal. He knew His Father's Will.
Honesty is Salvation. Our forefathers made a covenant with God, but do we really feel it? How many times do we really receive the Word? There's a difference in merely hearing, and receiving and feeling the Word.
We are often caught up with so much of the things of this world, that we forget what our goal is, which is Jesus Christ.
Let's ask God to help us to remember that He is with us at all times. Ask Him to help us to set our minds at all times to do what we need to do, realizing that God's Word is important.
Unless we empty ourselves to become "poor", we cannot ask for the richness of God.
"This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel."
~ First Sunday of Lent ~
Labels: lent, sundayreflection
posted by mary ann @ Monday, March 02, 2009
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